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Our understanding of pre-Cretaceous dinosaur reproduction is hindered by a scarcity of evidence within fossil records. Here we report three adult skeletons and five clutches of embryo-containing eggs of a new sauropodomorph from the Lower Jurassic of southwestern China, displaying several significant reproductive features that are either unknown or unlike other early-diverging sauropodomorphs, such as relatively large eggs with a relatively thick calcareous shell formed by prominent mammillary cones, synchronous hatching and a transitional prehatching posture between the crocodilians and living birds. Most significantly, these Early Jurassic fossils provide strong evidence for the earliest known leathery eggs. Our comprehensive quantitative analyses demonstrate that the first dinosaur eggs were probably leathery, elliptical and relatively small, but with relatively long eggshell units, and that along the line to living birds, the most significant change in reptilian egg morphology occurred early in theropod evolution rather than near the origin of Aves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ionic conductivity and lithium ion transference number (t L i + ) of electrolytes are essential parameters governing the performances of high energy density lithium metal batteries. Although the importance of t L i + versus ionic conductivity has been theorized by simulation, the systematically experimental study of their respective effects on lithium dendrite suppression and battery performances is rarely carried out. Here, a series of polyvinylidene fluoride and lithated sulfonated poly (ether ether ketone) blend (PVDF/SPEEK-Li) coated polyethylene (PE) separators with exactly the same composition but different pore morphologies are fabricated by vapor and non-solvent induced phase separation. The effects of sulfonate group–ion interaction and pore morphologies on ionic conductivity and t L i + of the electrolytes are studied. The performances of lithium metal batteries can be obviously improved by subtle increase of the t L i + , especially at high charge rates and even with a decrease in conductivity. Even at a high current density of 3 C, the PVDF/SPEEK-Li coated PE separator assembled lithium metal battery using a LiFePO 4 cathode with a mass loading of 10.5 mg cm−2 can run stably for 200 cycles with a capacity retention of 79 %, which is superior to the PE separator assembled battery with a life of only 55 cycles. [Display omitted] PVDF/sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) coated separators with finely regulated morphologies were fabricated by vapor and non-solvent induced phase separation. The effect of Li + transference number versus ionic conductivity on battery performance was elaborated experimentally. The coating layer enabled effective ion selectivity and suppression of lithium dendrite growth. The assembled Li metal battery with high cathode mass loading showed a capacity retention of 79 % after 200 cycles even if the current density is up to 3 C. • Scalable and controllable VIPS method for the PVDF/SPEEK-Li coated separators. • Selective Li + transport enabled by sulfonate groups on the separators. • Correlations of ionic conductivity and Li + transference number with battery performance. • Stable cycling of Li.||LiFePO 4 batteries with high cathode mass loading and current density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate whether direct administration of adenoviral vectors (Ad) containing the complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (cDNA) of vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (Ad-VEGF165) induces porcine coronary collateral vessel formation, improves regional myocardial perfusion and function and is safe., Methods: Three weeks after miniature swine underwent left thoracotomy and placement of an Ameroid constrictor on the left circumflex coronary artery (LCX), Ad-VEGF165 (n = 6) or the control, Ad expressing beta-galactosidase cDNA (Ad-Gal, n = 6), was directly administered into the ischemic myocardium in the circumflex distribution. All animals were sacrificed 4 wk after the second surgery. Myocardial perfusion and function were assessed by electrocardiogram-gated single photon emission computed tomography (GSPECT) imaging. Ex vivo coronary angiography was performed to examine collateral vessels. Toxicity was assessed by blood analyses on the day just before (day 0) and on day 1, 3, 7, 28 after vector delivery and by vascular, myocardial and liver histology after sacrifice., Results: GSPECT imaging 4 wk after administration of Ad-VEGF165 demonstrated significant reduction in ischemic area (P < 0.01) and rest ischemic severity (P < 0.01) and significant improvement in the left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.01) and regional wall motion (P < 0.05) compared with that of Ad-Gal and before administration of Ad-VEGF165. Collateral vessel development assessed by coronary angiography was significantly greater in the Ad-VEGF165 group than in the Ad-Gal group (P < 0.05). General safety parameters, including routine blood parameters, liver and kidney function and cardiac specific parameters demonstrated no difference between Ad-VEGF165 and Ad-Gal animals except for the red blood cell count on day 28 (P < 0.05) and blood urea nitrogen on day 7 (P < 0.05). Only transient elevations in creatine phosphokinase (P < 0.05) and aspartate transaminase (P < 0.05) on day 1 were revealed compared with that before vector administration in both groups. Histologically, no atherosclerotic lesion in the circumflex and no inflammation in liver were revealed and only a small myocardial necrosis was observed in one Ad-VEGF165 animal (area < or = 20%) and one Ad-Gal animal (area < 10%)., Conclusions: Ad-VEGF165 can induce coronary collateral vessel formation, improve regional myocardial perfusion and function and is safe by means of direct injection, which suggesting that this strategy may be useful in treating human ischemic heart disease.